This statement below was published by a national group of faith leaders on Friday 29 April 2022 at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne. It was sent to Prime Minister The Hon Scott Morrison MP and Opposition Leader The Hon Anthony Albanese. We will share details of their response once received. You can download the statement here.
Statement from Australian faith leaders on Temporary Protection Visas (TVPs) and other temporary forms of humanitarian protection for refugees in Australia
We urge our political leaders to reconsider the needs and futures of people who are still on Temporary Protection Visas. It is time to offer people on TPVs permanent protection.
We raise this matter cautiously, mindful of how fraught discussion of such matters has been in previous Federal Elections.
But we must speak because compassion and care for others are universal values shared by all major faith traditions. As people of faith, we bring this perspective to our consideration of all things, including public policy around protecting refugees and people seeking asylum.
Hence, we advocated for and welcomed recent steps to release most Medevac refugees from hotel detention; to move forward with the New Zealand resettlement plan; and to increase the number of Afghan refugees being offered protection.
We speak now, relatedly, out of deep concern about the current division between the two major parties on the issue of temporary protection visas.
These TPVs serve no public policy purpose and have lost community support since their introduction two decades ago.
Our pastoral knowledge is of people who have been living with stressful insecurity on TPV’s in communities around Australia. We hear their prayers and know their fears. Having sought refuge, they just want to belong and contribute. With their families and friends, they are part of community groups and neighborhoods. Many have found jobs, work hard, pay their taxes, and have embraced Australia as their home.
COVID-19 has required many rethinks and reminded us all of what is truly important in life. There is a wonderful opportunity for our political leaders to now embrace a group of people who want to put down roots, build lives and work hard for Australia's best future. Like generations of migrants and refugees before them, this group will become an integral part of the Australian story.
It is as a voice for the relatively voiceless that we are moved to write to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese in support of a more unifying and compassionate national policy on this important matter.
List of signatories (updated 2 May 2022)
Sister Brigid Arthur, The Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project
Bishop Paul Barker, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
Dr Greg Barton, Deakin University
Dr Makarand Bhagwat, President Hindu Council
Dr Graeme Blackman, President, Victorian Council of Churches
Rabbi Gabi Kaltman, ARK Centre
Tamara Domicelj, Country Director Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia, co-Chair of the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum
Bishop Genieve Blackwell, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
Revd Sandy Boyce, Executive Officer, Victorian Council of Churches
Fr. Frank Brennan SJ, Rector Newman College
Rev Keiron Jones, Anglican Parish of Flinders and Balnarring
The Hon. Diana Bryant, AO,QC
Revd David Bullock, Director of Mission and Ministries, Baptist Union of Victoria
Professor Des Cahill, Religions for Peace Australia
Bishop Greg O’Kelly SJ, Bishop emeritus Diocese of Port Pirie
Dr. Leslie Cannold, author and ethicist
The Most Reverend Geoff Smith, Archbishop of Adelaide and Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia
Mr Tim Cartwright, APM and Advisory Board of the Australian Intercultural Society
Revd Debra Saffrey-Collins, Head of Chaplaincy and Diocesan Partnerships, Brotherhood of St. Laurence
Fr Peter Hosking SJ, Saint Ignatius’ College Adelaide
Revd Tim Costello, Executive Director of Micah Australia
Dr Diana Cousens, Vice Chair, Buddhist Council of Victoria
Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen, Bishop of Parramatta and Chair of Catholic Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service
Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Brisbane
Bhakta Dasa, International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Fr Christopher Horvat SJ, Superior of Adelaide Jesuits
Imam Alaa Elzokm, Imam of West Heidelberg Mosque
Adel Salman, President Islamic Council of Victoria
Michael Kelly SJ
Celia Andrews, Anglican, Perth
Julie Edwards, Chief Executive Officer Jesuit Social Services, Co-Chair of the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum
Dr Adrian Evans, Emeritus Professor of Law, Monash University
Paul Fyfe SJ, Parish Priest Canice’s Kitchen and St Canice Catholic Parish, Sydney
Ms. Wendy Francis, on behalf of Australian Christian Lobby
Rabbi Ralph Genende
Revd Scott Holmes, Chaplain at the Brotherhood of St Laurence
Bishop Philip Huggins, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture
Mark Raper, SJ, Myanmar Jesuit Region
Mr. Ahmet Keskin, Executive Director of the Australian Intercultural Society
The Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe, Dean of Melbourne
Dr. Mohamed Mohideen, Islamic Council of Victoria
Bishop Kate Prowd, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
Fr Nguyen Viet Huy SJ, Holy family Emerton Jesuit Community
Dr Susan Riley, Former Deputy Lord Mayor, City of Melbourne
Revd Helen Summers, Director, The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne
Jasbir Singh Suropada, Chairperson, Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria
Barney Zwartz, Senior Fellow of the Centre for Public Christianity
Harold Zwier, Jewish community
Brenton Jayatilaka, Anglican Parish of City on a Hill
Revd Gemma Baseley, Anglican Diocese of Perth, Social Responsibility Committee
Br Peter Carrroll FMS, President Catholic Religious Australia
Brendan Byrne, SJ, Professor Emeritus of new Testament, University of Divinity
Shaykh Mohammad Ramzan, President Victorian Islamic Commission of Research, Fatwa and Charity
Rev. Charles Balnaves, PP
Click here to download the statement and find resources.